JP2007086902A - Content provision device, content provision method and content provision processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content provision device that appropriately provides created content data for third parties. <P>SOLUTION: The content provision device 1 stores photographic content captured by a camera 101 in a data storage part 103 with the addition of creation time information. When receiving a content request from a content reception device 2 within the communication range of a short range communication part 104 using short range communication, the content provision device 1 extracts content created within a fixed time of the reception from the data storage part 103 to transmit it from the short range communication part 104. Content created within a fixed time can be provided for content reception devices within a fixed range. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a content providing apparatus, a content providing method, and a content providing processing program, and more particularly to a content providing apparatus, a content providing method, and a content providing processing program for providing created content data to a third party.

  In recent years, a content sharing technique using a tool called file sharing software is widely used in a network such as the Internet. In general, the technology saves a sharable file on a computer connected to a network, and when a file sharing software accesses it from another computer and there is a transfer request for the sharable file, The file data that can be shared is provided to the access source computer.

  On the other hand, there is a technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 below as a content sharing technique using a mobile phone.

Conventionally, the content sharing technology using a mobile phone is a technology that uses a mobile communication network, such as using a service for receiving content by connecting to a content sharing server using a mobile communication network. Discloses a technology for sharing content without using a mobile communication network by providing a short-distance communication function in a mobile phone. As a method thereof, content information designated as sharable by a user who provides content is sent to another portable terminal, and a user who receives content can receive the content information from the received content information. A method for selecting and receiving desired content is described. Alternatively, the user who receives the content transmits search information for searching for the desired content to the terminal that provides the content, and the terminal that provides the content is designated by the user to be able to share the content A method for providing content when there is a corresponding content is described.
JP 2002-175234 A

  As described above, a method for sharing content using a short-range communication network and a method for sharing only content specified by the user at that time have already been proposed. However, there is an annoyance that it is necessary for the user to specify that content can be provided for each content. That is, content sharing is not performed unless specified by the user, resulting in a problem that content sharing is not actively performed.

  On the other hand, if all contents can be provided, there is a possibility of providing even contents that are not desired to be provided to humans, which is problematic in terms of security.

  For example, it is assumed that some users photograph something with a camera in a place where people gather to some extent. In that case, the photo content is created, but there is an idea that the created photo content may be shared among the people at “the place at that time”. In other words, if you are close friends, you will be able to speak and get photo content on the spot. Alternatively, it can be provided. However, in the case of people who are not close, it is difficult to call out and obtain the photo content taken by other people. Moreover, even if they are close friends, it is troublesome to speak out, and a method that can share photo contents more easily is desired. In such a case, the conventionally proposed technology has a problem that it is difficult to provide content appropriately.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and provides a content providing apparatus, a content providing method, and a content providing processing program for appropriately providing created content data to a third party. Objective.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present invention, a content providing apparatus includes a content creating unit that creates content, a time management unit that manages the passage of time since the content was created, and a time management unit. And transmitting means for transmitting the contents within a certain time elapsed since the creation by the contents creating means, to other devices existing within the certain range.

  The content providing device further includes storage means for storing the content created by the content creation means, and acceptance means for accepting a content request from another device, and the transmission means accepts the content request from the content storage means. It is preferable to extract the content within a certain period of time from when it was created and send it to other devices existing within a certain range.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the transmission means transmits the content to another device existing within a certain range by using short-range communication in which a communicable distance is determined.

  The content providing apparatus further includes position information measuring means for acquiring the current position, and the transmitting means is configured to receive the current position acquired by the position information measuring means when receiving the content request from another apparatus. It is preferable to compare the position information of another device included in the content request and transmit the content to another device existing within a certain range.

  Alternatively, the content providing apparatus further includes a position information measuring unit that acquires a current position, and the transmitting unit is configured to receive the current position acquired by the position information measuring unit and the content request when the content is generated by the content generating unit. It is preferable that the content is transmitted to other devices existing within a certain range by comparing the position information of the other devices included in.

  Alternatively, the content providing apparatus further includes a position information measuring unit that acquires a current position, and the transmission unit is configured to receive the first current position acquired by the position information measuring unit when the content is generated by the content generating unit. When the content request is received from another device by the receiving means, the second current position is compared with the second current position acquired by the position information measuring means, and the second current position is out of a certain range from the first current position. In such a case, it is preferable not to transmit the content to another device.

  The content providing apparatus further includes content processing means for creating processed content indicating an outline of the content from the content, and identification information generating means for generating content identification information uniquely corresponding to the content, and the transmission means includes: It is preferable to transmit the processed content and content identification information of the content within a certain time elapsed since the creation by the content creating means to other devices existing within the certain range.

  The content providing apparatus further includes content key generation means for generating a content key that can identify the content, and the transmission means obtains the content key of the content that has elapsed within a certain time since it was created by the content creation means. It is preferable to transmit to other devices existing within a certain range.

  The content providing apparatus further includes a position information measuring unit that acquires a current position, and the transmitting unit includes the current position acquired by the position information measuring unit when the content is generated by the content generating unit together with the content. The content creation time acquired by the time management unit is preferably transmitted to a storage device that stores the content, the content creation position, and the content creation time in association with each other.

  Further, it is preferable that the transmission unit notifies other devices existing within a certain range that the content can be provided when the content is created by the content creation unit.

  Furthermore, it is more preferable that the transmission means performs the notification using short-range communication in which a communicable distance is determined.

  In addition, it is preferable that the transmission unit transmits the content when the content request includes a notification indicating that the content can be provided by another device.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a content providing method is a method for providing content in a content providing apparatus that includes a creating unit that creates content and a time management unit that manages the passage of time since the content was created. A content creation step that creates content in the content creation means, and content that is managed by the time management means and that has elapsed within a certain period of time after being created in the content creation step exists within a certain range. A transmitting step of transmitting to another device.

  In addition, the content providing apparatus includes storage means for storing the content created by the content creating means, and the content providing method further includes a reception step of accepting a content request from another device, and in the transmission step, from the content storage means It is preferable to extract the content within a certain period of time since it was created when the content request was received, and send it to other devices existing within the certain range.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, the content provision processing program provides content in a content provision apparatus including a creation unit that creates content and a time management unit that manages the passage of time after the content is created. A program to be executed by a computer, a content creation step for creating content in the content creation means, and a content that is managed by the time management means and that has elapsed within a certain time since it was created in the content creation step, A transmission step of transmitting to other devices existing within a certain range.

  In addition, the content providing device includes a storage unit that stores the content created by the content creating unit, and the content providing processing program further executes a reception step of receiving a content request from another device, It is preferable to extract the content within a certain period of time from when it was created when the content request was received from the storage means, and transmit it to other devices existing within the certain range.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide content to a content receiving device existing within a certain range at a certain time from the time when the content providing device creates the content.

  In addition, according to the present invention, a content receiving device that exists or exists within a certain range at a certain time from the time when the content is created, out of the content created and stored by the content providing device, Content can be provided. It is also possible to provide a plurality of contents at the same time.

  Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to directly transmit and receive content data between nearby users without using a mobile communication network.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, even in a content providing apparatus that does not have a short-range communication means, it is possible to provide content to other users who exist within a certain time and within a certain range.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide content only to a content receiving device that is within a certain time from the content creation position for a certain time from the time of content creation.
According to the present invention, content provision is not performed when the content providing device is outside a certain range from the content creation position.

  Further, according to the present invention, the user of the content receiving apparatus can know the outline of the content to be provided in advance and can receive the content that he / she wants to receive.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the load of data transmission / reception that occurs within a certain time after content creation.

  Further, according to the present invention, the content receiving device can receive provision of content even when a certain period of time has elapsed since the time of content creation, and within a certain time and within a certain range at the time of content creation. It becomes.

  In addition, according to the present invention, the content providing device can actively provide content because the user of the content receiving device can know whether there is content that can be received without making a content request by the notification from the content providing device. It becomes.

  Further, according to the present invention, the user of the content receiving device can know that there is a content providing device having receivable content nearby.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the content providing apparatus provides content on the assumption that there is content that can be received, content sharing is actively performed. Further, the content receiving device can receive content provision from the content providing device simultaneously with content creation.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  First, the concept of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. It is assumed that the user performs camera shooting (content creation) using the camera provided in the content providing apparatus 1.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a concept of providing content with the content providing apparatus 1 as a main body. Referring to FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, the created content can be provided only to content receiving device 2 that exists within a certain distance (within a dotted circle). Although not shown in FIG. 1, the content created in the content providing device 1 is provided only for a predetermined time, and is not provided after a time determined in advance by the content providing device 1 from the time of creation.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a concept of content reception with the content receiving device 2 as a main body. Referring to FIG. 2, content receiving device 2 has passed only within a certain period of time from the time of content creation among the content stored in content providing device 1 within a certain distance (within a dotted circle). You can receive what is not. When there are a plurality of corresponding content providing apparatuses 1 and / or contents, a plurality of contents can be received.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, the content providing device 1 provides content only to the content receiving device 2 within a certain time and / or within a certain distance, based on the content creation time and the content creation location. Do. As a result, the user who owns the content providing apparatus 1 provides only the content created at “at that time”, so that other content need not be shared with other users.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the simplest configuration as a specific example of the configuration of the content providing device 1 and the content receiving device 2 according to the first embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 3, content providing apparatus 1 displays a UI (User Interface) for confirming the created content and using a camera, and a screen display unit 100 for performing various operations. And an input unit 105. Also, the camera 101 that enables content creation by the user, and a control unit that manages the time or timer to grasp the time when the content was created and the time when a request for content provision was received A time management unit 102 which is a function to be performed, and a data storage unit 103 for storing data of the created content and information accompanying the content, for example, information indicating the creation time. Note that a program executed by a control unit (not shown) of the content providing apparatus 1 is also stored in another area of the data storage unit 103. In addition, the content providing device 1 includes a short-range communication unit 104 that is guaranteed to perform only the content receiving device 2 within a certain distance when content is provided. The short-range communication unit 104 may be any function that can ensure that the distance between the content providing device 1 and the content receiving device 2 is within a certain distance. For example, the content providing device 1 and the content receiving device 2 may each include a location information confirming unit for confirming their own location, and a function using this.

  The content receiving device 2 includes a UI for confirming the content received from the content providing device 1, a screen display unit 200 for performing various operations, and an input unit 205. The data storage unit 203 is also provided for storing received content data and information associated with the content. A program executed by a control unit (not shown) of the content receiving device 2 is also stored in another area of the data storage unit 203. In addition, a short-distance communication unit 204 for transmitting a signal for requesting content to the content providing apparatus 1 and receiving content data from the content providing apparatus 1 is provided.

  When a user takes a picture using the camera 101 in the content providing apparatus 1, the photograph data acquired by the camera 101 is given a file name that uniquely represents the data and passed to the time management unit 102. In the time management unit 102, information indicating the creation time of the photo content is added to the photo data and stored in the data storage unit 103.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of content stored in the data storage unit 103. Specifically, the data storage unit 103 in which five pieces of photo content are stored is shown. As shown in FIG. 4, the photographic content created by being photographed by the camera 101 of the content providing apparatus 1 is associated with photographing time information that is information indicating the creation time of the content, and stored in the data storage unit 103. Saved. That is, a file name is assigned so that the content can be uniquely determined, and the shooting time is stored correspondingly. Correspondingly, the content data itself is also stored in the data storage unit 103, but is omitted in FIG.

  At this time, it is assumed that the user performs a content request operation using the input unit 205 in the content receiving device 2. At this time, a signal for requesting content is transmitted to the content providing apparatus 1 within a certain distance through the short-range communication unit 205. The content request signal transmitted here includes at least information requesting content and information specifying the content receiving device 2.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing in the content providing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment when a signal for requesting content is received. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is a process realized by reading and executing a program stored in a predetermined area of the data storage unit 103 by a control unit (not shown) of the content providing apparatus 1.

  Referring to FIG. 5, first, in step S1100, when it is detected by short-range communication unit 104 that a content request signal has been received from content receiving device 2 (YES in S1100), the control unit of content providing device 1 In step S1101, the data storage unit 103 is searched for whether there is content created within a certain time from when the content request signal is received.

  If the corresponding content exists (YES in S1101), the corresponding content data is transmitted from the short-range communication unit 104 in S1103. Moreover, when there are a plurality of corresponding contents, a plurality of corresponding contents data may be transmitted. For example, in the case where the content data stored in the data storage unit 103 is the specific example shown in FIG. 4, a content request signal is received from the content receiving device 2 at 15:33:30 on January 1, 2005. If you want to search for content created within minutes, only one file (200501011532.jpg) corresponds to the data to be sent and whether there is content created within 5 minutes. For example, three files (200501011529.jpg, 200501011531.jpg, 200501011532.jpg) correspond to the transmitted data.

  When transmitting a plurality of content data at the same time, the plurality of content data is archived and transmitted as if it were one file, or the data size of the content data is first set before sending each content data. There are various methods such as sending a plurality of content data at once after the other party knows the delimiter of the content data by sending, but the present invention provides a method for sending the plurality of content data. It is not limited by the method.

  If there is no corresponding data in the data storage unit 103 as a result of the search in step S1101 (NO in S1101), the process is terminated as it is. Alternatively, a signal indicating that there is no corresponding content may be transmitted to the content receiving device 2 through the short-range communication unit 104.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing from when the user performs a content request operation using the input unit 205 to when content is received from the content providing apparatus 1 in the content providing apparatus 2 according to the first embodiment. It is. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is a process realized by reading and executing a program stored in a predetermined area of the data storage unit 203 by a control unit (not shown) of the content receiving device 2.

  Referring to FIG. 6, when a content request operation from the user is accepted in input unit 205 in step S1200 (YES in S1200), a content request signal is transmitted from short-range communication unit 204 in step S1201.

  Thereafter, when reception of content data from the content providing apparatus 1 is detected in step S1202 (YES in S1202), the short-range communication unit 204 receives the transmitted content data in step S1203. Store in the data recording unit 203. Alternatively, at this time, the image display unit 201 may display an image immediately after reception.

  The time from when the content request signal is transmitted until the content data is received from the content providing apparatus 1 is counted by the time management unit 202. If the content data is not received from the content providing apparatus 1 and the time is over until a certain time elapses after the content request signal is transmitted (YES in S1204), the process ends. If the content data is received within a certain time (NO in S1204), the process returns to step S1202 to confirm the reception of the content data. Thus, the content receiving device 2 can receive the content data that has been received within a certain time after the content request signal is transmitted.

  By executing a series of these operations in the content providing apparatus 1 and the content receiving apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment, the content providing apparatus 1 sends the content receiving apparatus 2 according to the creation location and creation time of the content. Content is provided. That is, it becomes possible for the content receiving device 2 at “at that time” to receive the content created by the content providing device 1 at “at that time”. For this reason, the content providing side can provide content to an appropriate partner at an appropriate timing, and the content receiving side can acquire appropriate content at an appropriate timing.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the simplest configuration as a specific example of the configuration of the content providing device 1 and the content receiving device 2 according to the second embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, the content providing apparatus 1 includes a position information measurement unit 106 that confirms its own position, instead of the short-range communication unit 104 according to the first embodiment. The content receiving device 2 also includes a position information measurement unit 206 that confirms its own position, instead of the short-range communication unit 204 according to the first embodiment. In addition, the content providing apparatus 1 includes a communication unit 107 connected to the communication network 9, and the content receiving apparatus 2 includes a communication unit 207 connected to the communication network 9, thereby enabling communication with each other.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing when the user makes a content request in the content receiving device 2 according to the second embodiment. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is also a process realized when a control unit (not shown) of the content receiving device 2 reads and executes a program stored in a predetermined area of the data storage unit 203.

  Referring to FIG. 8, when a content request operation from the user is accepted in input unit 205 in step S1300 (YES in S1300), content information receiving apparatus 2 at that time is received by position information measuring unit 206 in step S1301. The current position of is obtained. The position information measuring unit 206 always measures the current position. At this timing, the position information measuring unit 206 may simply return the current position acquired most recently, or may perform measurement at this timing.

  In step S1302, the position information acquired in step S1301 is transmitted from the communication unit 207 via the communication network 9 together with the content request signal. At this time, the communication unit 207 may transmit to the content providing apparatus 1 specified using the specifying means not limited in the present invention, or an unspecified number of content providing apparatuses connected to the communication network 9. 1 may be transmitted. For example, if the communication network 9 is a mobile network, it is sent to the content providing apparatus 1 that is connected to the same base station. Sending, etc. can be considered.

  Thereafter, when reception of content data from the content providing apparatus 1 is detected in step S1303 (YES in S1303), in step S1304, the communication unit 207 receives the transmitted content data and records the data. Store in the unit 204. Alternatively, at this time, the image display unit 201 may display an image immediately after reception.

  Note that the time from when the content request signal is transmitted until the content data is received from the content providing apparatus 1 is counted by the time management unit 202, and the content is received until a certain time elapses after the content request signal is transmitted. If the content data is not received from the providing device 1 and the time is over (YES in S1305), the process is terminated. If the content data is received within a certain time (NO in S1305), the process returns to step S1302 to confirm the reception of the content data. Thus, the content receiving device 2 can receive the content data that has been received within a certain time after the content request signal is transmitted.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing when the content providing apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment receives a content request signal and position information transmitted accompanying the content request signal from the content receiving apparatus 2. It is. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 is also a process realized when a control unit (not shown) of the content providing apparatus 1 reads and executes a program stored in a predetermined area of the data storage unit 103.

  Referring to FIG. 9, first, when it is detected in step S1500 that communication unit 107 has received a content request signal and position information from content reception device 2 (YES in S1500), in step S1501, a position is received. The information measurement unit 106 acquires the current position. The position information measurement unit 106 always measures the current position. At this timing, the position information measurement unit 106 may simply return the current position, or may perform measurement at this timing.

  In step S1502, the control unit of the content providing apparatus 1 compares the position information of the content receiving apparatus 2 received in step S1500 with the current position to check whether the distance is within a predetermined distance. . There are various methods for comparing whether or not the distance is within a certain distance using location information, such as confirming that the latitude and longitude are within a certain range, or calculating and comparing a straight line distance. However, in the present invention, it is only necessary to calculate and compare based on the two pieces of position information of the position information transmitted from the content receiving device 2 and the current position information of the content providing device 1. It is not limited by the calculation method for.

  As a result of the comparison in step S1502, if it is confirmed that the content receiving device 2 at the time of content request and the current content providing device 1 are within a certain distance (YES in S1502), the control of the content providing device 1 In step S1503, the unit searches the data storage unit 103 to determine whether there is content created within a predetermined time from when the content request signal is received. If there is the corresponding content (YES in S1503), the corresponding content data is transmitted from the communication unit 107 to the content receiving device 2 via the communication network 9 in S1504.

  As a result of the comparison in step S1502, it is confirmed that the content receiving device 2 at the time of content request and the current content providing device 1 are not within a certain distance (NO in S1502), or the search in step S1503 As a result, when there is no corresponding data in the data storage unit 103 (NO in S1503), the process is terminated as it is. Or you may complete | finish, after transmitting the signal which shows that there is no applicable content to the content receiver 2 through the communication part 107. FIG.

  The content providing apparatus 1 and the content receiving apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment perform these series of operations, so that even if the short-range communication means is not provided, the content providing apparatus 1 “at that time, the location Can be provided, and the content can be received by the content receiving device 2 in “at that time”. For this reason, even if no special communication means is provided, the content providing side can provide content to an appropriate partner at an appropriate timing, and the content receiving side can provide appropriate content at an appropriate timing. It becomes possible to acquire.

[Third Embodiment]
In the first and second embodiments, a method for sharing content created at “at that time and location” between the content providing device 1 and the content receiving device 2 at “at that time and location” However, since “the place at that time” has a certain range, the content providing device 1 and the content receiving device 2 If the relative distance is short, content sharing becomes possible. That is, for example, when the predetermined time in step S1101 or step S1503 is set to, for example, 5 minutes, the content providing apparatus 1 is within a distance of 1000 m from the place, such as by using a car, within 5 minutes. Sometimes, when a content request is received from a nearby content receiving device 2, the corresponding content is passed. In order to solve this, a countermeasure such as narrowing the range of a certain time period to, for example, one minute is possible, but in this case, there is a problem that the content that can be provided is very limited.

  The content providing apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment employs a content providing method that solves such a problem.

  The process until the content providing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment receives the content request signal and the position information from the content receiving apparatus 2 is the same as the process in the content providing apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment. is there.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of content stored in the data storage unit 103 of the content providing apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment. In the present embodiment, in addition to the specific example shown in FIG. 4, position information at the time of content creation (at the time of photographing) corresponding to each content is stored.

  Since the content providing apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7 includes the position information measuring unit 106, when the camera 101 takes a picture, the position at the time of shooting is displayed in the position information measuring unit 106. It is possible to obtain and use the content in association with the created content. In some cases, position information cannot be acquired. In this case, there may be content without position information as in the case of the file name 200512311540.jpg.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing when the content providing apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment receives a content request signal from the content receiving apparatus 2 and position information transmitted accompanying the content request signal. is there. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11 is also a process realized when a control unit (not shown) of the content providing apparatus 1 reads and executes a program stored in a predetermined area of the data storage unit 103.

  Referring to FIG. 11, first, in step S1400, when communication unit 107 detects that a content request signal and position information have been received from content receiving device 2 (YES in S1400), control of content providing device 1 is performed. In step S1401, the unit stores the content created in the data storage unit 103 within a predetermined time from the time when the content request signal was received, the position information received from the content receiving device 2, and the position information of the corresponding content. To find out if there is content created within a certain distance.

  If the corresponding content exists (YES in S1401), the corresponding content data is transmitted through the communication unit 107 in step S1402. For example, assuming that a certain time is 5 minutes and that a certain distance is searched based on the criteria of latitude ± 0.0.0.10 and longitude ± 0.0.0.10, the received position information is “latitude + 35. In the case of FIG. 10, two files (200501011531.jpg, 200501011532.jpg) correspond to “40.39.90, longitude +139.4.56.30”. In this way, in the comparison method of whether or not the distance is within a certain distance using the position information in step S1401, the latitude and longitude are confirmed to be within a certain range, or the straight line distance is calculated and compared. In the present invention, based on two pieces of position information, that is, position information transmitted from the content receiving device 2 and position information corresponding to the content stored in the content providing device 1. The present invention is not limited by the calculation method for comparison as long as it is calculated and compared. Similarly to the first and second embodiments, when there are a plurality of corresponding contents as described above, a plurality of contents data may be transmitted.

  If there is no corresponding data in the data storage unit 103 as a result of the search in step S1401 (NO in S1401), the process is terminated as it is. Alternatively, a signal indicating that there is no corresponding content may be transmitted to the content receiving device 2 through the communication unit 107.

  With this series of operations, it is possible to prevent the content providing device 1 from providing the content receiving device 2 with the content that has not been created at “at that time”.

  As another method, there is a method of comparing the current position when the content request is received with the content creation position. In this case, the content request signal from the content receiving device 2 can be used even when the location information of the content receiving device 2 is not included.

  FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating another specific example of processing when the content providing apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment receives a content request signal from the content receiving apparatus 2.

  Referring to FIG. 28, when it is detected in step S2400 that communication unit 107 has received a content request signal from content receiving device 2 (YES in S2400), in step S2401, position information measuring unit 106 determines the current position. To be acquired. The position information measuring unit 106 may always measure the current position and simply return the current position at this timing, or may perform measurement at this timing.

  Next, in step 2402, the control unit of the content providing apparatus 1 stores the content created in the data storage unit 103 within a predetermined time from the time when the content request signal is received, and the current position and the position information of the corresponding content. And whether there is content created within a certain distance.

  If the corresponding content exists (YES in S2402), the corresponding content data is transmitted through the communication unit 107 in step S2403. On the other hand, if there is no corresponding data in the data storage unit 103 (NO in S2402), the process is terminated as it is. In the case of NO in step S2402, since there is no corresponding content, the process ends as it is. As a result, even if the position information is not sent from the content receiving device 2, if the content providing device 1 leaves the content creation position to some extent, the content is not provided. Is possible.

  Note that the content providing apparatus 1 and the content receiving apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment may include the short-range communication unit described in the first embodiment, instead of the communication unit 107 or the communication unit 207. Absent.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In the first to third embodiments, after receiving a content request, the content data itself is sent. However, if there is more than one content data, or if you want to know in advance what the content is, if the content is an image, first send information that gives an overview of the content, such as a thumbnail image, and the recipient receives the information. In some cases, it may be desirable to send the content data itself when it is desired to receive the content after confirming the content. Therefore, this embodiment shows a method in that case.

  FIG. 12 shows a configuration of the content providing apparatus 1 and the content receiving apparatus 2 according to the fourth embodiment, in which information indicating the outline of the content is transmitted prior to transmission of the content data, and then the content data is transmitted. It is a block diagram which shows the simplest structure as a specific example.

  Referring to FIG. 12, the content providing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment adds content in addition to the configuration of the content providing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment whose specific example is shown in FIG. A content processing unit 108 for processing so that an outline of the content can be understood, and a content ID for uniquely specifying the processed content, and a content ID used when the desired content is selected by the content receiving device 2 are generated And a content ID generation unit 109. The content ID needs to be able to be uniquely specified by the content providing device 1 when the desired content is specified by the content receiving device 2. Therefore, examples of the generation method include a method of generating serial numbers by assigning them in the order of content creation, or a method of generating using time in seconds based on the content creation time. Furthermore, when content corresponding to the same content ID already exists when the content ID is generated, the content ID is generated again (such as a new content ID obtained by adding an arbitrary numerical value to the end of the content ID). It is preferable to be produced.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a process when the content providing apparatus 1 according to the fourth embodiment receives a content request signal from the content receiving apparatus 2. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 13 is also a process realized by reading and executing a program stored in a predetermined area of the data storage unit 103 by a control unit (not shown) of the content providing apparatus 1.

  Referring to FIG. 13, first, in step S1600, when it is detected that content request signal is received from content receiving device 2 by short-range communication unit 104 (YES in S1600), the control unit of content providing device 1 In S1601, the data storage unit 103 is searched to determine whether there is content created within a certain time from the time when the content request signal is received.

  If the content exists (YES in S1601), the content processing unit 108 processes the content data in step S1602. As processing methods in step S1602, generally, for example, if the content is a photograph, the image is processed into a reduced thumbnail image, or if the content is a song, only the first few seconds are cut out, or the content In the case of video, processing such as cutting out the first few seconds or reducing the video display size can be mentioned. That is, in step S1602, the content processing unit 108 processes the content so that an outline of the content can be understood. Further, when there are a plurality of corresponding contents, a plurality of contents data are processed.

  In step S1603, the content ID generation unit 109 generates a content ID corresponding to each processed content.

  Finally, in step S1604, the content data processed in step S1602 and the corresponding content ID are transmitted from the short-range communication unit 104.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing processing when the user makes a content request in the content receiving device 2 according to the fourth embodiment. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14 is also a process realized when a control unit (not shown) of the content receiving device 2 reads and executes a program stored in a predetermined area of the data storage unit 203.

  Referring to FIG. 14, when a content request operation from the user is accepted in input unit 205 in step S1700 (YES in S1700), a content request signal is transmitted from short-range communication unit 204 in step S1701.

  Thereafter, when reception of the processed content data and the corresponding content ID is detected from the content providing apparatus 1 in step S1702 (YES in S1702), the processed content data is processed in step S1703. And the content ID are stored in the data storage unit 103 in association with each other. At this time, if necessary, information for specifying the content providing apparatus 1 that has transmitted the processed content data and the content ID is also stored. Also, in step S1702, the time from the transmission of the content request signal and the content request signal to the reception of the content data processed by the content providing apparatus 1 and the content ID is determined by the time management unit 202. It is timed. If this information is not received from the content providing apparatus 1 until a certain time elapses after the content request signal is transmitted and the time is over (YES in S1704), the processing in steps S1702 and S1703 is terminated. The process proceeds to step S1705. If these pieces of information are received within a predetermined time (NO in S1704), the process returns to step S1702 again to confirm reception of the processed content data and content ID. Thus, the content receiving device 2 can receive the processed content data that has been received within a certain time after the content request signal is transmitted.

  Next, in step S1705, the control unit of the content receiving apparatus 2 displays a list of the received processed content data on the screen display unit 200, and the input unit 205 accepts selection of desired content from the user. Here, only one or a plurality of selections may be made.

  Next, in step S1706, in order to request transmission of the content data, the control unit of the content reception device 2 transmits the content ID corresponding to the content selected in step S1705, and the content ID that has transmitted the content ID. To the providing device 1. Of course, if the content ID is uniquely determined among the plurality of content providing devices 1 existing in the vicinity of the user, there is no need to identify and transmit the content providing device 1, and the short-range communication unit 104 ( A content ID for a content request may be transmitted to all nearby terminals (without specifying a communication partner).

  Thereafter, when it is detected in step S1707 that the content providing apparatus 1 has received the content data corresponding to the transmitted content ID (YES in S1707), the short-range communication unit 104 transmits the content data in step S1708. Received and stored in the data storage unit 203. In step S1709, it is checked whether there is a content ID that has been transmitted but has not yet received content data. If all the content data corresponding to the transmitted content ID has been received (NO in S1709), the process ends without proceeding to step S1710.

  The time from when the selected content ID is transmitted until the content data is received from the content providing apparatus 1 is counted by the time management unit 202. If all of the content data corresponding to the transmitted content ID has not been received from the content providing apparatus 1 until a certain time has elapsed since the content ID was transmitted, the time is over (YES in S1709, and S1710) YES), it ends as a time-out. If several pieces of content data are received within a certain time (NO in S1710), the process returns to step S1707 to confirm the reception of the content data.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating processing when the content providing apparatus 1 according to the fourth embodiment receives a content ID for requesting content data from the content receiving apparatus 2. Referring to FIG. 15, when the content ID is received from content receiving device 2 in step S1800 (YES in S1800), the control unit of content providing device 1 refers to the content data stored in data storage unit 103. In step S1801, content data corresponding to the content ID is specified, and the corresponding content data is transmitted.

  Through these series of steps, the content receiving device 2 can select and receive only the desired content after confirming the details of the content provided from the content providing device 1.

[Fifth Embodiment]
In the above-described embodiment, content data is directly exchanged between the content providing device 1 and the content receiving device 2. However, there are many content providing devices 1 or content receiving devices 2 in the vicinity. In such a case, there is a problem that content data is frequently exchanged and the burden on the content providing device 1 or the content receiving device 2 increases. In order to solve this, in the fifth embodiment, a content providing apparatus that employs a method of providing or obtaining only a content key and obtaining content data later, for obtaining content later 1 and the content receiving apparatus 2 will be described.

  FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the simplest configuration as a specific example of the configuration of the content providing device 1 and the content receiving device 2 according to the fifth embodiment. The configuration of the content providing device 1 and the content receiving device 2 according to the present embodiment is almost the same as the configuration of the content providing device 1 and the content receiving device 2 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. Although having the configuration, the content providing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment further includes a content key generation unit 110 that generates a content key for acquiring content later. The communication unit 107 can be connected to the content storage server 3 that stores the content data to be provided. Further, the communication unit 207 of the content receiving device 2 can be connected to the content storage server 3 and can acquire content stored in the content storage server 3.

  The content key needs to be able to uniquely identify the content in the content storage server 3. Therefore, the content key generation unit 110 adds the serial number and serial number of the content providing apparatus 1 to the content ID generated by the above-described method employed in the content ID generation unit 109. For example, the content providing apparatus 1 generates the information by adding information that can identify the content.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing processing when the user makes a content request in the content receiving device 2 according to the fifth embodiment. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 17 is also a process realized by reading and executing a program stored in a predetermined area of the data storage unit 203 by a control unit (not shown) of the content receiving device 2.

  Referring to FIG. 17, when content request operation from the user is accepted in input unit 205 in step S1900 (YES in S1900), content information receiving apparatus 2 at that time is received by position information measuring unit 206 in step S1901. The current position of is obtained.

  Next, in step S1902, the location information acquired in step S1901 is transmitted to the content providing apparatus 1 together with the content request signal from the communication unit 207 via the communication network 9. At this time, the communication unit 207 may transmit to the content providing apparatus 1 specified using the specifying means not limited in the present invention, or an unspecified number of content providing apparatuses connected to the communication network 9. 1 may be transmitted. For example, if the communication network 9 is a mobile network, it is sent to the content providing apparatus 1 that is connected to the same base station. Sending, etc. can be considered.

  Thereafter, when reception of the processed content data and the content key from the content providing apparatus 1 is detected in step S1903 (YES in S1903), the processed content data and content key are determined in step S1904. Are associated and stored in the data storage unit 203. At this time, it is preferable to store information for specifying the content providing apparatus 1 that has transmitted these data as necessary.

  Note that the elapsed time since the content request signal is transmitted is counted by the time management unit 202, and when a certain time has elapsed since the content request signal was transmitted and the time is over (YES in S1905), Processing is terminated. Within a certain time (NO in S1305), the process returns to step S1903 again to confirm reception of the processed content data and content key. Thus, the content receiving device 2 can receive the processed content data and the content key that have been received within a certain time after the content request signal is transmitted.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a process when the content providing apparatus 1 according to the fifth embodiment receives a content request signal from the content receiving apparatus 2. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 18 is also a process realized when a control unit (not shown) of the content providing apparatus 1 reads and executes a program stored in a predetermined area of the data storage unit 103.

  Referring to FIG. 18, first, when it is detected in step S2000 that communication unit 107 has received a content request signal and position information from content reception device 2 (YES in S2000), in step S2001, content is received. The control unit of the providing apparatus 1 compares the position information received from the content receiving apparatus 2 with the position information received from the content receiving apparatus 2 within a predetermined time from the time when the content request signal is received. The data storage unit 103 is searched for whether there is content created within a certain distance.

  It is assumed that content data is stored in the data storage unit 103 in the form as shown in FIG. If the corresponding content exists (YES in S2001), the content processing unit 108 processes the corresponding content data in step S2002. As the processing method in step S2002, a method similar to the processing method in step S1602 in the fourth embodiment can be employed.

  Next, in step S2003, the content key generation unit 110 generates a content key corresponding to each corresponding content.

  Finally, in step S2004, the processed content data and the corresponding content key are transmitted from the short-range communication unit 104. In step 2005, the corresponding content data and the corresponding content key are transmitted to the content storage server 3.

  The content storage server 3 stores the received content data and the corresponding content key in association with each other, and prepares for a content request from the content receiving device 2.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a process of actually acquiring content data using the acquired content key in the content receiving device 2 according to the fifth embodiment. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 19 is also a process realized when a control unit (not shown) of the content receiving device 2 reads and executes a program stored in a predetermined area of the data storage unit 203.

  Referring to FIG. 19, in step S <b> 2100, the control unit of content receiving apparatus 2 displays a list of received processed content data on screen display unit 200, and desired content is selected from the user by input unit 205. Accept. Here, only one or a plurality of selections may be made. Next, in step S2101, in order to request transmission of the content data, the control unit of the content reception device 2 transmits a content key corresponding to the content selected in step S2100 to the content storage server 3.

  Thereafter, when it is detected in step S2102 that the content data corresponding to the transmitted content key is received from the content storage server 3 (YES in S2102), the content data is received in step S2103, and the data Store in the storage unit 203. In step S2104, it is checked whether there is a content key that has been transmitted but has not yet received content data. If all the content data corresponding to the transmitted content key has been received from the content storage server 3 (NO in S2104), the process ends without proceeding to step S2105.

  The time from when the selected content key is transmitted until the content data is received from the content storage server 3 is counted by the time management unit 202. By the time when a certain period of time has elapsed since the content key was transmitted, all of the content data corresponding to the transmitted content key was not received from the content storage server 3 and time was over.

  FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing processing when the content storage server 3 receives a content key for requesting content data from the content receiving device 2 in the fifth embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 20, when a content key is received from content receiving device 2 in step S2200 (YES in S2200), it is searched in step S2201 whether there is corresponding content data, and the corresponding content data. Is present (YES in S2201), the corresponding content data is transmitted in step S2202.

  Through these series of steps, the content receiving device 2 can receive only the content key from the content providing device 1 on the spot and acquire the content data later via the server, so that the content providing device 1 and the content receiving device 2 The processing load can be reduced compared to the case where content data is directly exchanged between the two. This is particularly effective in situations where many exchanges of content provision occur.

  In the present embodiment, as in the third embodiment, the content creation position and the content reception created by the content providing apparatus 1 using the position information measurement unit 106 or the position information measurement unit 206 are used. Whether or not the position of the device 2 is close is determined, but this may be guaranteed by using a short-range communication unit as in the first embodiment. That is, the request or provision of the content key may be performed by communication that does not specify a partner at a predetermined distance using the short-range communication unit.

  In the present embodiment, the content storage server 3 is included in the network. However, for example, the content receiving device 2 may be configured such that the content storage server 3 is included in the content providing device 1. That is, the content receiving device 2 may directly transmit a desired content key to the content providing device 1, and the content providing device 1 may provide content according to the flow of FIG. When the content storage server 3 is included in the content providing device 1, the content key generating unit 110 may generate a content key that can be specified in the content providing device 1, similarly to the content ID generating unit 109.

  Also, as an application example of this embodiment, the content receiving device 2 uses the content storage server to store information (movement history information, etc.) combining an arbitrary time and position information at that time instead of the content key. 3, and the content created at “at that time, the place” of the movement history may be obtained. In this case, the content data and the corresponding time and position information as shown in FIG. 10 may be transmitted to the content storage server 3 and stored in advance (for example, at the time of content creation). Necessary.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating processing in the content storage server 3 when a certain time and position information at the time are received from the content receiving device 2 in the application example of the fifth embodiment.

  That is, the content receiving apparatus 2 periodically checks the time and the position information at the time using the time management unit 202 and the position information measurement unit 206, and holds information combining these. Suppose.

  Referring to FIG. 21, at step S2300, content storage server 3 combines a certain time and position information at that time transmitted from content receiving device 2 for the content request. When it is detected that the movement history information has been received (YES in S2300), the content data is created within a certain distance from the position indicated by the position information based on the received position information in step S2301. The received content is searched for whether or not there is content created within (or before or after) a certain time. If the corresponding content data exists (YES in S2301), the corresponding content data is sent. .

  By executing such processing, when you return from your destination, for example, you will be able to obtain content created near the place and time you were on the road. The received content can be received by the content receiving device 2 in “at that time”.

  When the content storage server 3 is included in the content providing device 1, it goes without saying that the processing in the content storage server 3 in the application example is also executed in the content providing device 1.

[Sixth Embodiment]
In the above-described embodiment, it is assumed that the content reception device 2 makes a content request as a trigger for content reception. In this case, there is a possibility that there is no receivable content even if the content request is made. There is. That is, there are cases where content is not provided even if the content request is made many times.

  In the sixth embodiment, a case will be described in which content provision is performed with content creation as a trigger.

  FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the simplest configuration as a specific example of the configuration of the content providing device 1 and the content receiving device 2 according to the sixth embodiment when content is provided with the content creation as a trigger. It is.

  Referring to FIG. 22, content providing apparatus 1 notifies content receiving apparatus 2 through content communication apparatus 104 through content communication device 104 when content creation is performed.

  The content receiving device 2 makes a content request to the content providing device 1 after receiving the content providing availability notification signal from the content providing device 1 through the short-range communication unit 204. The subsequent processing is the same as the processing until reception of the content data described so far.

  In the sixth embodiment, the short-range communication unit 104 and the short-range communication unit 204 are used. However, as in the second or third embodiment, the method using the position information measurement unit may also be used. Good.

  Furthermore, as an application example of the sixth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 23, a service that includes a content storage box 4 and accumulates content created in the vicinity of the content storage box 4 is also possible. That is, when the content storage box 4 receives a content provision availability notification from the content providing device 1, the content storage box 4 makes a content request to the content providing device 1, and receives and accumulates the content data. The content receiving device 2 makes a content request to the content storage box 4 and receives content data from the content storage box. Since a large amount of content can be stored in the content storage box 4, processed content data such as thumbnail images is previously stored in the content receiving device 2 as in the fourth embodiment. After sending, you may choose the content you want.

  Thus, since the content storage box 4 is “always located at that place”, content created in the vicinity thereof is accumulated. The content receiving device 2 can receive the content created at “the place at that time”. For example, by providing a fee to the content storage box operator, the content receiving device 2 can provide the content created retroactively. Service such as receiving is possible.

[Seventh Embodiment]
FIG. 24 shows the content providing apparatus 1 according to the seventh embodiment in which the content receiving apparatus 2 makes a content request to the content providing apparatus 1 triggered by the creation of content that can be provided by the content receiving apparatus 2. 2 is a block diagram showing the simplest configuration as a specific example of the configuration of the content receiving apparatus 2 and FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 24, when content that can be provided is created by performing camera shooting or the like in content receiving device 2, content provision device 1 is notified of content provision availability together with a content request. The content providing apparatus 1 provides content data by receiving a content request including a content provision availability notification.

  Since the content providing apparatus 1 has received a content provision available notification from the content receiving apparatus 2, the next content receiving apparatus 2 makes a content request using this notification as a trigger.

  Such a configuration increases the fairness of content provision, and as a result, it is easy to actively provide content or exchange content. Further, since the content receiving apparatus 2 can obtain content from other terminals immediately after taking a picture of the camera, the content receiving apparatus 2 obtains the contents created by the other terminal at “the place at that time” together with the contents taken by itself. It is also possible to store them or display them side by side with the captured content. As a result, content provision becomes more active.

  In the present invention, in consideration of security problems, provision of content may be restricted such as setting not to transmit content. As the method, it is conceivable that the content can be provided, the above-mentioned fixed time from the time of content creation is shortened, or whether or not the content can be provided is set.

  FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of content stored in the data storage unit 103 of the content providing apparatus 1 when content provision is restricted. In the example shown in FIG. 25, a provision permission flag indicating whether or not provision is possible is set for each content.

  When the content providing apparatus 1 searches for content that can be provided from the data storage unit 103 in response to the content request signal, the content providing device 1 refers to the provision permission flag, and the content provision device 1 From this, content that meets the conditions is extracted.

  The provision permission flag may be set (switched) by the content creator at the time of content creation, or may be set (switched) by a predetermined user at some point after the content creation.

  As described above, by setting the provision permission flag for each content as a method for restricting the provision of the content, it is possible to prevent the content that is not desired to be provided.

  As a technique common to the above-described embodiments, a general sequence when there are a plurality of content providing apparatuses 1 and / or content receiving apparatuses 2 will be described.

  FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a sequence between a plurality of content providing apparatuses 1A to 1C and one content receiving apparatus 2.

  Referring to FIG. 26, in this case, content receiving device 2 enters a state of waiting for content reception after making a content request. If the content data is sent during this period, the content data is received. If the content data is exceeded, the content reception wait is terminated. In the case of FIG. 26, content data is received from the content providing apparatuses 1A and 1C.

  FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a sequence between one content providing apparatus 1 and a plurality of content receiving apparatuses 2A to 2C.

  Referring to FIG. 26, in the sixth embodiment, content receiving devices 2A and 2C that have received a content provision availability notification from content providing device 1 make a content request when they want to request content. It will be in the state of waiting for content reception for a certain time.

  When receiving the content request, the content providing device 1 transmits the corresponding content data to the content receiving devices 2A and 2C. The content receiving devices 2A and 2C receive content data when it is sent while waiting for content reception. In FIG. 27, the content providing apparatus 1 transmits content data to each of the content providing apparatuses 2A and 2C. However, the content providing apparatus 1 transmits content data to all persons who can receive data, such as broadcast data. The content providing device 2 that is desired to receive may receive the content data.

  The content providing apparatus 1 and the content receiving apparatus 2 according to the present invention are implemented in a mobile phone equipped with a camera, a personal computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a digital camera equipped with a communication function, and the like. It may be realized, or may be realized by being mounted on a part of these devices. In addition, these devices may have both the function as the content providing device 1 and the function as the content receiving device 2.

  In each of the above embodiments, a camera is given as a specific example of the content creation unit. However, the content creation unit is not limited to a camera as long as it can create content. For example, a microphone, a video camera, or a television broadcast is used. Or a terminal having a streaming broadcast reception function, it may be a broadcast screen image or video capture function.

  In addition, as the short-range communication units 104 and 204 listed in the above embodiment, specifically, functions using technologies such as Bluetooth (R), wireless LAN (Local Area Network), IrDA (Infrared Data Association), etc. Can be considered.

  The content providing device according to the present invention provides content to a content receiving device within a certain range for a certain period of time from when the content is created. This providing method can obtain the created content at the time of content creation. The idea that it may be provided to those who will be able to share the same things, such as landscapes, if they will be the source of the created content, that is, if the content creation by camera shooting It is based on.

  For this reason, the fixed time for providing content is preferably one minute or a few hours (a period according to the event time) in consideration of content sharing at any event venue. The provision of content is not limited to a certain time after the content is created, and may be a certain time before and after the content is created. For example, as in an application example of the fifth embodiment, content is provided by obtaining information (movement history information, etc.) that combines a certain time and position information at that time from the content receiving device 2. In this case, the content is not necessarily limited to a certain time after the content is created, and the content may be provided if the content creation time is compared with the time obtained from the content receiving device 2 and the time is around a certain time. .

  Furthermore, based on the above concept of providing content, the range within which content is provided is around 10 m, which is an interval between them, or within a range of 100 m to 300 m assuming an event venue, for example. Is preferred. This is also a distance that substantially matches the reach distance in the specific examples of the short-range communication units 104 and 204 described above.

  In each of the above embodiments, the relationship between the content providing device and the content receiving device is not particularly described. That is, content sharing between a content providing device and a content receiving device possessed by an unknown person is possible. For example, if a friend is present, some kind of authentication is performed between the content providing device and the content receiving device in advance. And a restriction may be provided so that content sharing in the present invention is performed only between devices having the authentication information.

  Moreover, the content provision method performed with the above-mentioned content provision apparatus 1 can also be provided as a program. Such a program is stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk attached to the computer, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a memory card. And can be provided as a program product. Alternatively, the program can be provided by being recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk built in the computer. A program can also be provided by downloading via a network.

  The provided program product is installed in a program storage unit such as a hard disk and executed. The program product includes the program itself and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is the figure which showed the concept of the provision of content centering on the content provision apparatus. It is the figure which showed the concept of reception of content by making the content receiver 2 into a main body. It is a block diagram which shows the simplest structure as a specific example of a structure of the content provision apparatus 1 and content receiving apparatus 2 concerning 1st Embodiment. 4 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of content stored in a data storage unit 103. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the content provision apparatus 1 concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the content provision apparatus 2 concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the simplest structure as a specific example of a structure with the content provision apparatus 1 and content receiving apparatus 2 concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the content provision apparatus 2 concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the content provision apparatus 1 concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the content preserve | saved at the data storage part 103 of the content provision apparatus 1 concerning 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the content provision apparatus 1 concerning 3rd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the simplest structure as a specific example of a structure with the content provision apparatus 1 and the content receiver 2 concerning 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the content provision apparatus 1 concerning 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the content receiver 2 concerning 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the content provision apparatus 1 concerning 4th Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the simplest structure as a specific example of a structure of the content provision apparatus 1 and the content receiver 2 concerning 5th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the content receiver 2 concerning 5th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the content provision apparatus 1 concerning 5th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the content receiver 2 concerning 5th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the content storage server 3 in 5th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the content storage server 3 in the application example of 5th Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the simplest structure as a specific example of a structure of the content provision apparatus 1 and the content receiver 2 concerning 6th Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the simplest structure as a specific example of the structure of the content provision apparatus 1 of the structure with the content storage box 4 concerning the application example of 6th Embodiment, and the content receiving apparatus 2. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the simplest structure as a specific example of a structure with the content provision apparatus 1 and the content receiver 2 concerning 7th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the content preserve | saved in the data storage part 103 of the content provision apparatus 1, when provision of a content is restrict | limited. It is a figure showing the sequence between several content provision apparatus 1A-1C and one content receiver 2. FIG. It is a figure showing the sequence between the one content provision apparatus 1 and several content receiver 2A-2C. It is a flowchart which shows the other specific example of a process of the content provision apparatus 1 concerning 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  1, 1A-1C content providing device, 2, 2A-2C content receiving device, 3 content storage server, 4 content storage box, 9 communication network, 100, 200 screen display unit, 101 camera, 102, 202 time management unit, 103 , 203 Data storage unit, 104, 204 Near field communication unit, 205 Input unit, 106, 206 Position information measurement unit, 107, 207 Communication unit, 108 Content processing unit, 109 Content ID generation unit, 110 Content key generation unit.

Claims (16)

Content creation means for creating content;
Time management means for managing the passage of time since the content was created;
Content providing comprising: a transmission unit that is managed by the time management unit and that transmits a content within a certain period of time since the creation by the content creating unit to another device within a certain range. apparatus. Storage means for storing the content created by the content creation means;
Receiving means for receiving a content request from another device;
2. The transmission unit extracts content within a certain period of time after being created when the content request is received from the content storage unit, and transmits the content to the other device existing within the certain range. The content providing apparatus according to 1.   The content providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the content to the other apparatus existing within the certain range using near field communication in which a communicable distance is determined. It further comprises position information measuring means for acquiring the current position,
The transmission means, when the content request is received from the other apparatus by the reception means, the current position acquired by the position information measurement means, and the position information of the other apparatus included in the content request, The content providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the content is transmitted to the other apparatus existing within the certain range. It further comprises position information measuring means for acquiring the current position,
The transmission unit compares the current position acquired by the position information measurement unit with the position information of the other device included in the content request when the content is generated by the content generation unit. The content providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the content is transmitted to the other apparatus existing within the certain range. It further comprises position information measuring means for acquiring the current position,
When the content is created by the content creation unit, the transmission unit receives the first current position acquired by the position information measurement unit and the content request from the other device by the reception unit. When the second current position is compared with the second current position acquired by the position information measuring means and the second current position is outside the predetermined range from the first current position, The content providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the content is not transmitted to the apparatus. Content processing means for creating processed content indicating an outline of the content from the content;
Further comprising identification information generating means for generating content identification information uniquely corresponding to the content,
The transmission means transmits the processed content and the content identification information of content within a certain time elapsed since the creation by the content creation means to the other device existing within the certain range; The content providing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. A content key generating means for generating a content key capable of specifying the content;
3. The transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the content key of the content whose time has elapsed within a certain period of time after being created by the content creation unit to the other device existing within the certain range. The content providing apparatus described. It further comprises position information measuring means for acquiring the current position,
The transmission means, together with the content, when the content is created by the content creation means, the current position obtained by the position information measurement means, and the content creation time obtained by the time management means. The content providing device according to claim 1, wherein the content providing device transmits the content, the content creation position, and the content creation time to a storage device that stores the content in association with each other.   The transmission means notifies the other apparatus existing within the certain range that the content can be provided when the content is created by the content creation means. The content providing apparatus according to 1.   The content providing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the transmission unit performs the notification using near field communication in which a communicable distance is determined.   The content providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transmission unit transmits the content when the content request includes a notification indicating that the content can be provided by the other device. Creating means for creating content;
In a content providing apparatus including time management means for managing the passage of time since the content was created, the method provides the content,
A content creation step of creating the content in the content creation means;
A content providing step, wherein the content is managed by the time management means, and the content is transmitted for transmission to another device existing within a certain range for the content within a certain time since the creation in the content creating step. Method. The content providing apparatus includes storage means for storing the content created by the content creation means,
A reception step of receiving a content request from another device;
14. In the transmission step, content within a predetermined time period after being created when the content request is accepted is extracted from the content storage means, and transmitted to the other apparatus existing within the predetermined range. The content providing method described in 1. Creating means for creating content;
A program for causing a computer to execute provision of the content in a content providing device including time management means for managing the passage of time since the content was created,
A content creation step of creating the content in the content creation means;
A content that is managed by the time management means, and that transmits a content within a certain period of time since the content is created in the content creation step to a transmission device that transmits the content to another device within a certain range. Provision processing program. The content providing apparatus includes storage means for storing the content created by the content creation means,
Further executing a reception step of receiving a content request from another device;
16. In the transmission step, the content within a predetermined time after being created when the content request is accepted is extracted from the content storage means and transmitted to the other device existing within the predetermined range. The content provision processing program described in 1.

Images